NPD, trying out the BBE Sonic Maximizer, anyone use it?

[andy474x]

Decided to treat myself to a little something after completion of a tough clinical case at school. I've seen and heard the BBE sonic stomp before, but never felt the need for it until now. I've noticed a low mid bump in the EQ of the lead channel of my SE30 at high volumes, and it kind of kills the treble and bite. I wasn't able to get a more modern tone with some high end crisp to it minus the honky mids. Not looking to get scooped necessarily, I just didnt like where the mids were at for modern tones. So a few nights back I grabbed the pedal, and I had some free time this morning and threw it in my effects loop. Pretty impressed, so far the response of my EQ settings is a lot more in line with what I'm after. More top end, I can turn off the bright switch and still have more articulation and snap than I had before, without being harsh. Mid response was even improved when turned up. The restored highs brought some grind back to the distortion character too. So I think I like it so far. Still waiting to try it with the band, but I'm hoping for a bit more cut and articulation. It's not going to be an "always on" effect, I like my clean channel as is, it kills the warmth of that channel a bit. Anyone else have some experience with the Sonic Stomp?

Side note, there are SO many pedals on the market right now! The pedal display cases were chock full of some high end stuff at the shop, Wampler, Mad Professor, Fulltone, and so on. Very cool, but also a little intimidating if you're the type that has to try everything when tone hunting. Asked the guy helping me for a distortion pedal to demo the BBE with, told him I wasn't picky and he handed me the MXR Super Badass. Pretty cool pedal for $100, really liked the tone 3 band tone control aspect.

 

[Egads]

I've had a Sonic Stomp for quite some time...and convinced the other guitar players in both of my bands to get one, just by demoing it for them. That said, it hasn't been on my board for a couple years now. It's not that I don't like it or think it improves the clarity; it's just that there's never enough room on my board! In one band setting, I am using a pretty large board and just can't fit it on.

Where I think this pedal really shines is in decluttering the all frequencies after running through a bunch of pedals and cable. It seems to restore the punch, like you said you experience with it in the loop. Since I started using a bypass loop/controller, I haven't felt I need the BBE enough to really force it to fit the board.

Both of the other guitar players are still using theirs. I may get mine out for the home rehearsal space, now that you've brought it up.

 

[Rango]

I had one and used it for a while...I found it depended on the rig whether it was a plus or not.

I got mine on sale at GC, used it some but it just wasn't needed with my P22 and the 53/10's with my Mesa TA-30 or my '59 Bassman LTD. When I was Drumming, our lead player was playing a Strat to a Marshall JCM800 with a Hot plate to keep our ears from bleeding. :laugh: It was magic with that rig, you could really hear the difference.

It's a good pedal but it hasn't stayed on my board.
FWIW
Chris